New Release: Arran 1996 18 Year Old Official "Angel's Reserve" Celebrating 20 Years of Distillery Operations

A full-bodied sherry-forward Arran, with unexpectedly rich body. Arran ISLE OF ARRAN 1996 18yo OB "ANGEL'S RESERVE" CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF DISTILLERY 51.1% One of 1188 bottles, EX-OLOROSO SHERRY HOGSHEADS The nose is full of sherry, blackcurrant, plum jam, raisins, strong chocolate, gentle herbs and clove, with a touch of barley at the back. On the palate, it expands from a smooth mouthfeel with rich jam-like sweetness, woody and tightening astringency, full-bodied, rich and long finish. [Good/Very Good] The new release Arran 1996, matured for 18 years, is the "Angel's Share" bottling to celebrate the distillery's 20th anniversary. It seems this is a bottling intended for Asian markets. Clearly influenced by sherry, the bottle exudes fruitiness notes of blackcurrant, jam, and dried fruits, along with chocolate, herbs, and spices. On the palate, the sherry character remains strong, with a rich sweetness balanced by a slightly astringent finish that tightens the flavor. Although 18 years old, it feels like it might become too astringent with further aging, suggesting this is the optimal time to bottle. This differs from typical Arran sherry casks, likely a special reserve sherry cask preserved specifically for this 20th anniversary celebration.